NRP Investigate Two Boating Accidents

One Fatal, One Serious

An accident occurred at 1:20 p.m. on the Marshyhope Creek, near Federalsburg, Md. NRP’s investigation revealed that John Miller, 63 from Bridgeville, Del. was fishing by himself on a 16 foot vessel. Miller was thrown overboard was struck two or three times by the boat and motor as the vessel circled around him. Eventually, he was able to swim out of the path of the circling vessel and was retrieved by a Good Samaritan vessel. Miller was transported to Peninsula Regional Medical center with propeller injuries to his head, neck and arms.

Another accident occurred at 3:41 p.m. in the Chesapeake Bay just south of the fishing pier at North Beach Calvert County. NRP’s investigation revealed William Thomas Cole, 42, of North Beach, Md. was operating a 10 foot personal watercraft (PWC). Witnesses stated that Cole was jumping waves when he was knocked of his vessel. He yelled for assistance before being covered by breaking waves and later being found unconscious on the water. Winds were estimated at 15 to 20 knots with 2-3 foot waves in that portion of the Bay at the time of the accident. Cole was wearing a life jacket.

North Beach Volunteer fire Company transported the victim to Calvert Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead. The victim’s body was transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for an autopsy. NRP’s Special Operations Division continues to investigate this accident.

The Maryland Natural Resources Police is the enforcement arm of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). With an authorized strength of 247 officers and a dedicated staff of civilian and volunteer personnel, the NRP provide a variety of services in addition to conservation and boating law enforcement duties throughout the State of Maryland. These services include homeland security, search and rescue, emergency medical services, education, information and communications services on a round the clock basis. NRP is the only police force aside from the Maryland State Police that has statewide jurisdiction.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is the state agency responsible for providing natural and living resource-related services to citizens and visitors. DNR manages a half-million acres of public lands and 17,000 miles of waterways, along with Maryland's forests, fisheries and wildlife for maximum environmental, economic and quality of life benefits. A national leader in land conservation, DNR-managed parks and natural, historic and cultural resources attract 11 million visitors annually. DNR is the lead agency in Maryland's effort to restore the Chesapeake Bay, the state's number one environmental priority. Learn more at www.dnr.maryland.gov